Winter carp fishing is gradually becoming increasingly popular. The thing is that it was previously believed that this fish hibernates for the winter, practically does not feed and, accordingly, does not respond to bait. However, this opinion is erroneous, as evidenced by the rich catches of experienced fishermen. If you are also a fan of river fish and winter fishing, you will find this article useful, which describes in detail the features of carp fishing in winter.
We will look at what habits are typical for carp in the cold season and where it is best to look for this fish, and also pay attention to the selection of suitable gear and fishing techniques.
How to catch crucian carp in winter
Winter fishing for crucian carp is possible mainly in large reservoirs. Small lakes and ponds freeze completely, so the crucian carp burrows into the mud. And large bodies of water, especially if there is a predator in them and not such a good food supply, will become the fisherman’s primary target.
Large bodies of water
Here crucian carp often go out to feed at shallow depths - 1.5-3 meters, in areas with a sandy-rocky or clayey bottom. Pay attention to the following places:
- Areas with aquatic vegetation remaining from the summer,
- The space near the snag,
- Small depressions on a relatively flat bottom
- Areas near springs and springs
Reservoirs where there are warm currents from power plants are especially good for fishing.
Crucian carp in winter tends to feed in one place and if you find it, you can count on good fishing throughout the entire period.
Ponds and lakes
For obvious reasons, pond and lake crucian carp are less active, but this does not mean that they are not caught at all. At the beginning and end of winter, it will peck on completely non-freezing reservoirs.
Here you should look for it in areas with depths of 3-4 meters with a small amount of silt, in pits. In winter, it is problematic for an angler to identify such places, so landmarks are laid out in open water.
Catching crucian carp in winter with a jig
Crucian carp belongs to the fish of the carp family. It densely populated the water bodies of our homeland. And thanks to small requests, crucian carp can be found in reservoirs that, at first glance, are unsuitable for fish to live.
The favorite places for fish are small rivers with a lot of vegetation and swampy lakes. Even when the reservoir is completely covered with ice, and there is almost no oxygen in the water, crucian carp simply hibernate and are able to survive even in the most extreme conditions.
Some fishermen believe that catching crucian carp with a jig is a waste of time and does not bring a catch. But this is not at all true; if you choose the right gear, choose a fishing spot and know some secrets, you can catch much more fish than with a float.
For catching crucian carp with a jig, any winter fishing rod is suitable, the main thing is that it has a nod. Since fish are most often hooked by hand, and the fisherman is not far from the hole, long whips are unnecessary; 5 centimeters is enough. Nods must be selected based on the weight of the jig. The main thing is that it is sensitive, since crucian carp is a very cautious fish and its bite is not always noticeable.
Catching crucian carp in winter with a jig requires thin gear, so you should not use a fishing line thicker than 0.1 mm. But thin fishing line should be used not only to prevent scaring away the fish, but also to make it easier to control light jigs. The main thing is to give preference to high-quality fishing lines from trusted manufacturers so that they have sufficient strength.
For fishing to be successful, you need to know some subtleties and secrets:
- It is best to choose warm days without wind for fishing. If there is severe frost and snowstorm outside, the crucian carp will refuse to bite.
- The best place for catching crucian carp with a jig is slow water with a large layer of silt at the bottom. In winter, crucian carp is found at shallow depths; sometimes it is useless to look for it at a depth of more than 3 meters.
And if you choose the right gear and fishing location, then consider that the fishing was a success. Well, in order to ensure such fishing, you need to prepare for it in advance, it is advisable to find a map of the reservoir in the summer or autumn, collect as much information about it as possible, and maybe buy an echo sounder. If you listen to these tips, then you are guaranteed a catch.
Before you go fishing, you need to take with you not only a map of the reservoir, you should also not forget:
- rod with a nod;
- several jigs;
- bait and groundbait.
For a little more information about this, read the article on what to take with you on winter fishing.
To catch crucian carp with a jig, it is necessary to use very strong rods and fishing line, since crucian carp exhibits quite a lot of resistance when fishing. Don’t forget that there is an opportunity to catch a big crucian carp. In order to provoke the crucian carp to bite, you need to play with the jig without sudden jerks and take short breaks. It is thanks to this fishing technique that crucian carp bite quite well and often.
Jigs for crucian carp
If you plan to catch crucian carp in a familiar body of water, then choosing jigs for crucian carp is not difficult, because you know about the preferences of the fish. Well, if you are on a completely unfamiliar body of water, then you can’t do without advice on choosing a jig. If you plan to catch crucian carp in winter from the bottom, then you need to give preference to jigs such as disk, drop, and bug. These forms of jigs are considered the most catchy, but a lot also depends on the color. Choosing a color requires an experienced approach. Try fishing with light-colored jigs, and if there are no bites, change them to darker ones.
Playing with a jig during winter fishing for crucian carp
Crucian carp that feeds at the bottom will peck at a stationary jig “on the rise”. Smaller crucian carp, which feed in the bottom layers of water, respond well to slow and smooth play with a jig, with a small amplitude and short pauses. If the crucian carp is passive, then sometimes it can be provoked by frequent and sharp play of the jig at the very bottom. You can also lower the jig to the very bottom and tap it several times, then take a short pause and make one of the transactions described above.
Weather
Crucian carp has always been distinguished by its special dependence on weather conditions. If in summer it is not so easy to guess his behavior, then there is nothing to say about winter. But there are a number of factors that the angler should know:
- The activity of crucian carp is favorably influenced by sunny weather
- Pressure changes for a short period can awaken crucian carp to feed
- As the temperature drops, crucian carp activity declines
- During the thaw, it becomes active again and often goes out to feed in coastal areas and shallows.
Fishing at night
In winter, crucian carp can be caught throughout the day. But each body of water has its own characteristics - on some it is more active in the morning, on others - in the afternoon.
There are also reservoirs where it is better to catch crucian carp at night. It is noteworthy that at night in different bodies of water it behaves differently. Some bite throughout the night, others only a few hours after nightfall or before dawn.
Most likely, the crucian carp adjusts its schedule to the minimum time of predator activity.
Tackle
Fishing for crucian carp in winter involves the use of two types of gear - a jig and a winter float rod. In terms of equipment, they are essentially the same:
- Winter fishing rod - a regular “balayka” will do
- Fishing line, diameter 0.08-0.14 mm
Fishing with a jig
Catching crucian carp with a jig involves using a nod as a signaling device. The length of the whip is about 20-30 cm. The jigs are selected in the smallest, not bright colors. The following types are best suited:
- Uralka
- Nymph
- A drop
- Disk
- Ant
- Ovsinka
- Banana
There is a rule that the color of the jig needs to be selected depending on the light level. On sunny days, dark jigs work better; on cloudy days, jigs of silvery shades, but not too bright, work better.
Experiment with baitless jigs. Catching crucian carp with a reelless bait requires a slow game, with smooth ascents, descents and short breaks.
It looks like this:
- The bait rises above the bottom, slowly and smoothly moves horizontally
- Then it is raised 5-10 cm higher and placed on the bottom
- A minute break, then the game is repeated
For both beginners and experienced fishermen, it would be a good idea to read the article on how to tie a jig.
Fishing with a float
The difference between a float fishing rod is that the signal is a float, a hook is tied to the end of the fishing line, and a sinker-shot is attached just above it, about 10-15 cm.
- A foam float in the form of a small keel attached to a fishing line.
- The sinker is selected in such a way that the float is located approximately 2-3 cm below the surface of the water and does not freeze into the ice.
- As for the hook, the best option would be a thin, sharp hook size 2.5-4.
- The best olive type float. It is adjusted so that the hook with the bait is located at the bottom or 2-5 cm from it.
You should hook the hook at the moment when the float begins to rise slightly above the water - in winter, crucian carp often bite upward.
Combined tackle
Whether it’s a nozzle or a tackle with a nozzle, both have their own specific advantages. It is a practice among anglers to combine these two tackles into a kind of hybrid.
The fishing rod is equipped with a nod used for baitless fishing. The fisherman, playing with this tackle, simultaneously monitors the float. In this case, the vibrations of the jig will additionally attract fish.
In turn, a float is attached to the reelless bait, using a small bloodworm on a jig hook as bait.
Tackle for winter crucian fishing
Fishing for crucian carp in winter can be done with several types of gear. It is caught using jigs and float tackle. It’s not difficult, all you need to do is put bait on the hook, lower it to the bottom and wait for a bite. If the fish refuses to bite for a long time, then you can try to move the bait with a fishing rod.
Every fisherman has his favorite spots. If you have such places, then choosing gear will not be difficult. After all, you will know what gear is suitable for fishing in certain conditions. Often, difficulties with choosing and making gear arise when fishing in an unfamiliar body of water. And here you can’t do without the advice of experienced fishermen.
Since crucian carp are most often caught from the bottom, jigs should be selected in the shape of a disk or a drop. They perform best when fishing and you should start with them. But fishing success depends not only on the shape of the jig; color also plays an important role. Start fishing the pond using silver or golden jigs; if there are no results, then move on to darker colors. But under different fishing conditions, a classic pellet or Uralka can help out. You have to choose a jig only experimentally.
The fish bite in winter is quite unstable. Very often I had to deal with the fact that in the morning crucian carp took light jigs, and at lunch they preferred dark ones. It’s worth constantly experimenting and not sitting still. In addition to gear for winter fishing for crucian carp, how you present the bait is also important. And a good catch will be ensured if you follow all the recommendations.
Catching crucian carp in winter has a certain command character. If you are not fishing alone, then choosing bait and tackle, as well as finding a fishing spot will be much easier. Solo fishermen on unfamiliar waters have little chance of failure.
The classic baits used for crucian carp are bloodworms and maggots. Below we will talk in more detail about them. Sometimes crucian carp, of course, can bite on the dough, but very rarely, and not in all reservoirs.
Winter fishing rod for crucian carp
Today, fishermen are constantly remaking fishing rods and there are a lot of models. If you plan to catch crucian carp with a float, then there are no special requirements for choosing a fishing rod. All that a winter fishing rod for crucian carp should have is: lightness, strength and flexibility of the tip. The flexible tip is needed to hook and absorb the jerks of the fish when playing.
The simplest and lightest fishing rod for crucian carp is the “filly”. One can only envy the reliability of such a fishing rod. And made from durable frost-resistant materials, the whip will serve you for many years. But some people prefer to use “balalaikas” or simple rods with an open reel. Choosing a rod is an individual matter.
Fishing line for crucian carp in winter
Ice fishing line should remain soft under all temperature conditions. If you plan to catch small crucian carp, then a 0.1 mm fishing line will be enough for you. There is no need for a thicker line, as a thick fishing line has a negative impact on the fish’s bite. Many times I have encountered a situation where the bite of crucian carp was activated by using a thinner fishing line. Of course, the thinner the line, the better quality it should be. It is best to give preference to well-known manufacturers who make fishing lines conscientiously.
Lures
Of the variety of baits, crucian carp prefers the following in winter:
- Bloodworm
- Maggot
- Burdock moth larva
- Caddisfly
A classic winter bait will be several medium-sized bloodworms, planted in the form of a panicle.
On the first and last ice they can also fish with vegetable baits:
- Dough
- Bread
- Semolina chatter
- Mastyrka
- Pearl barley
But they are more appropriate in reservoirs where there are no small fish, such as bleak.
Lure
As bait for winter fishing for crucian carp, ordinary store-bought and home-made mixtures are used, the basis of which is corn grits, breadcrumbs, semolina, and ground cake. An important component will be the presence of a small amount of food bloodworms.
On each reservoir, crucian carp reacts to bait differently:
- In some, separate addition of bloodworms and mixture works
- In others, he may prefer only bloodworms and maggots in minimal quantities
- Thirdly, he may even leave the hole if there is something else in it besides bait.
In any case, it’s worth starting with the minimum - adding fertilizer in limited quantities, because in winter you can easily overfeed the fish.
In some cases, only if you are going to set up a long-term bait in promising places or are fishing at night. At night, the crucian carp feels more confident and is more willing to go to the baited area.
During the dry winter period, it is recommended to feed exclusively with bloodworms.
Fishing methods
There are two main ways of catching crucian carp on the first ice - passive and active. With the first one, the angler simply lowers the bait to the bottom, places the fishing rod permanently and begins to wait for a bite. Contact of the fish with the bait is indicated either by a float or a nod.
The active method involves working with bait. The fisherman lowers the jig to the bottom and begins to shake the rod, slowly lifting it up. At the top point there is a pause. Then the cycle repeats. By changing your playing technique, you can move even passive fish.
Fishing with jigs
Ice fishing for crucian carp using a jig with a nozzle or bait is the main way to fish for this underwater inhabitant in winter. A bloodworm, a worm, an insect larva are placed on the bait hook, dough or pearl barley is placed, and the equipment is lowered to the bottom.
Recommended reading: How to catch pike perch in the fall
In this case, the fish are attracted by the jig for its play and appearance, as well as the bait, which has a taste and smell. The crucian carp reacts to the movement of the bait under the hole at the bottom, approaches, tries it and decides to bite. All that remains is to do the hooking and landing.
Baitless fishing
Reelless is a catchy way of fishing for active fish. If crucian carp is active and readily responds to bait, then baitless fishing is the best choice in such conditions. This is exploratory fishing, during which you have to drill many holes, explore the water area, and select wiring.
The best nozzle jig for crucian carp is a small pellet weighing 0.2–0.3 grams. It is recommended to put a small bead of black, white, yellow or red on the hook and secure it with a piece of cambric of a contrasting color. This fish reacts well to devils, goats and small “bulls” models.
Float fishing
Fishing for crucian carp with a winter float rod is passive fishing that does not require active searching. It is assumed that the “penguin” knows the water area and the habits of local fish well. After drilling several holes with a distance of about 5 meters between them, they arrange the gear. After determining the most catchy point, they move to where they fish at the same time with 2-3 rods.
Fishing for crucian carp in December
The success of catching crucian carp in December largely depends on the weather. If frosts come sharply and water bodies freeze quickly, then the fish will take some time to get used to the new conditions.
If the temperature dropped gradually, then the bite will be quite intense, at times ceasing to become a real glutton. During this period, crucian carp usually stays close to their summer camps.
The December bite is quite stable, but as the temperature drops and the ice thickness increases, it declines.
Secrets of fishing
Fishing for crucian carp in winter is fraught with several secrets:
- You can lure fish not only with bait, but also with bait. When the bite is weak, try slightly moving the float or nod. Crucian carp, feeling the movement in most cases, hurry up to grab the bait.
- If the bite suddenly stops, don’t be lazy to make several holes 8-10 meters downstream.
- Even the most effective bait does not always give results immediately after feeding.
- The bite of winter crucian carp often looks like a weak twitch of a nod. The hook should be short but sharp.
- You should fish slowly, given the thin equipment, the crucian carp begins to resist most of all when brought to the hole.
More often, the bite of crucian carp is of a wave nature. Several bites follow one after another, with a frequency of 5-10 minutes, then the bite subsides for a while. Bait allows you to shorten these breaks, and in some cases make fishing continuous.
The success of fishing is often determined by how quickly it is possible to detect a concentration of fish. They usually wait 10-15 minutes at each hole - there is no point in waiting longer. Therefore, it is better to fish with a group of anglers or rely on others.
Having found a catchy place, be sure to return there again. Crucian carp is constant, perhaps at some time it will not be there, but sooner or later it will return there.
Fishing equipment
For winter fishing, use float rods or rods with a nod. Also, tackle with jigs is widely used.
Float tackle works best at night, when crucian carp begins to wander around the reservoir in search of food. More often, the winter diet includes leftover complementary foods from fishermen. When fishing with a float, the bait drops 3-7 centimeters from the bottom and is in a free position.
The fishing rod itself consists of a rod 25-35 centimeters long, a reel attached to the rod, fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 to 0.18 centimeters, a jig and an additional hook.
The float on such a fishing rod is very small and has its own characteristics. The fact is that the crucian carp carefully and gently takes the bait and the fisherman simply will not notice the bite if there is a large float.
The jig is also not very large and preferably bright . During daytime fishing, it is best to use a so-called “devil” jig on a float. As bait, a bloodworm or maggot is placed on the tip of the hook. But crucian carp will also not refuse semolina or dough.
jig “devil”
Usually, the bite drags on for a long time. The float shudders and begins to twitch intensely. Under no circumstances should you hook at this time, otherwise you can scare away the entire flock. It is necessary to wait until the crucian carp confidently takes the bait and only after that should the hook be struck.
rod nods
A fishing rod with a “nod ” bite alarm is perhaps the most famous and popular among fishermen. Its peculiarity is that, unlike float gear, bites of crucian carp, even the most inconspicuous ones, are clearly visible.
This fishing rod, like the float rod, consists of a rod 35-45 centimeters long, a reel with fishing line, a bite alarm “nod” and a jig. The nod plays the most important function in the design of this tackle.
In addition to the fact that it is a bite alarm, it also dampens the force when hooking a fish and the chance of breaking the thin lip of a crucian carp is much less. It is known that many fish, including crucian carp, are lured by the so-called “game” of the jig.
Nods can be hard or soft. The length of the nod depends on the weight of the jig and how you play. So, if the nod is hard, then the vibration frequency of the jig is high and vice versa, if the nod is soft, then the amplitude of the jig’s play is smooth.
